As for shirk, it is never forgiven—Allah has decreed that He will not pardon it. By contrast, the sinful believer whose offenses are major yet fall short of shirk is not barred from Paradise; his final destination will be the Garden. Allah may choose to forgive him outright and admit him to Paradise from the very first moment, or He may first punish him in the Fire, then bring him out and admit him to Paradise. Whatever acts of flagrant disobedience a believer may commit so long as they do not involve shirk, he must not despair of Allah’s mercy, for Paradise is not forbidden to him; he remains within the sphere of forgiveness, subject to Allah’s will.

The polytheist, however, is deprived of all this—Allah’s refuge is sought—demonstrating that shirk is the gravest of sins. The Exalted says, “Indeed, associating others with Allah is a great injustice” (Luqmān 31:13). He also says, “Whoever associates anything with Allah has indeed fabricated a tremendous sin” (al-Nisāʾ 4:48), and, “Whoever associates anything with Allah has strayed far indeed” (al-Nisāʾ 4:116).

All these verses prove that shirk is the most heinous of sins. Because it is the greatest sin, scholars and students of knowledge must forbid it and warn against it; they must never remain silent about the danger of shirk. When the means are available, it is likewise obligatory to strive against the polytheists, just as the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, strove against them.